Reel-rake for harvesters



(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

W. H. KNAPP. REEL RAKE FOR HARVBSTERS.

110. 243,711. Patented July 5. 1881.

J was 2.

NJETERs vmmmno mnnr. Wishmglon. D. c.

UNITED STATES.

PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM H. KNAPP, OF GALESBURG, MICHIGAN.

REEL RAKE .FOR HARVESTERS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters'latent No. 243,711, dated July 5,1881.

Application filed May 6, 1881. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM H. KNAPP, a citizen of the United States,residing at Galesburg, county of Kalamazoo, State of Michigan, haveinvented a new and useful Reel-Rake for Reapers, of which the followingis a specification.

My invention has for its leading object a construction of reel-rakes toreaping-machines,

substantially as hereinafter set forth, whereby the rakes are throwninto the grain in advance of the cutter-bar at any distance therefromdesirable, in a position horizontally parallel with for supporting andguiding the rakes in their transit around the wheels in a manner thatthey will strike into the grain, teeth downward, at the point desiredand in the horizontal position specified, and move back tothe rear ofthe cutter-bar, and either trip, leaving the bundle on the table, orpass on around in the usual mannerof side deliverers, raking the gavelonto the ground, then pass on around totthe point Where they strike intothe grain again.

In the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, inwhich similar let ters of reference indicate like parts, Figure 1 is atop view of the device, showing the plane ofthe track; Fig. 2, a sideelevation, looking from the side at which the driving mechanism of areaper is located; Fig. 3, face view .of a tripping device; Fig. 4,depression in the track where the tripping of the rake occurs; Fig. 5rake-head and connections as when located at a point just to the left ofstud e in Fig. 2; Fig. 6, .the same in the position shown in Fig. 2,with the sprocket-wheel in section on aline with draw-bar J in Fig. 1,at the left hand; Fig. 7, top view of the rake-head, draw-bar and braceFig. 8, side view of same; Fig. 9, broken portion of the same inperspective; Fig. 10, per.- spective of a cover to the machinery andView used.

' of the track on the side next to the cutter bar,

and Fig. 11 end view from a point to'the left of Fig. 2. p

Referring to Fig. 1, T is the cutter-bar platform, and S the location ofa cutter-bar as in a common construction of reapers. C C are thesprocket-wheels, having axles located in bars L W, the left-hand wheelbeing adjustable in regard to its distance from the other wheel by meansof its axle being -located in adjusting-slots in the bars L and W. E inthis figure illustrates a point at which power mechanism may beconnected from the runninggear of the reaper, shaft E being coupled withgear-wheel A, Figs. 2 and 11, said gear-wheel meshing with gear of thesprocket-wheel 0 above it. As power may be imparted tothe mechanism ofmy device by many other methods, I do not desire this feature to" haveany connection with the main novelty of my invention, as I consider itpurely a mechanical In the construction shown two rakes are The requirednumber will depend upon the distance the two wheels 0 O are apart andthe speed at which they revolve.

The rakes R R are similar to others already in use, which revolve arounda common center in device, in which they strike into the grain atoblique angles to the cutter-bar; but some variations quite importantare made to adapt them to my use. i

The rake, as shown, consists of the portion bearing the teeth, thecastin g H, with projection a, said part H being swiveled to part F,their separation being at 6, Figs. 5 and 6. h and b are friction-wheels;z, a recess, and o a projection, hereinafter explained.

To the rake-head casting. F, at m, I jointcdlyconnect anautomatically-adjustable drawbar. and brace, J, the opposite end thereofbeing jointedly connected with the chain c to portion c, at a. pointobliquely opposite the point at which portion F of the rake-headconnects with chain 0 when rake R is in position shown in Figs. 1, 2,and 6. This draw-bar J consists of part 1', having head a, said rod 0"being movably inserted in a hole through the end of stirrup or recessedbar a. Bar a has a recess or notch, cl, adapted to receive theprojection b of head a, explained in the operation. Part 1? is made withthe face of the ends at right angles with each other, and are thusjointedly connected with parts 0 and a. Part 0 is slotted in order toadjust the length of the bar J, Fig. 7. Part 2 also has eachendjointedly connected, at right angles with each other, to parts 1 andF, the latter connection being at m. This construction of the draw-bar Jadapts it to conform to Varying angles of the rake R during theoperation.

Referring to Figs. 2 and 10, D is the cover to the mechanism, guardingit from the grain, supported by brackets or bars N N. 4 is a bar bearinga friction presser-wheel, 1, near its center, which causes the gear ofwheel A- to mesh with the gear of wheel 0 above it. This bar 4 isslotted at one end,'Fig. 1, for adjusting the degree of pressure of thepresserwheel 1 against wheel A.

The rake track or way, described in ageneral manner, consists of twoparallel bars extending entirely around the wheels 0 O and above them,except on thecutter-loar side the track is a little lower than ahorizontal plane with the chainwvheels, and on this one bar is brokenup; but the way will be better understood by the detailed description inconnection with the operation, as follows:

Referring to Fig. 1, considering rake R in the position shown by dottedlines R, where it has struck into the uncut grain in thepreviously-specified horizontally-parallel position with cutter-bar S,as it moves along, recess 2, Fig. 6, engages or slides along over bar 5,Fig. l, and projection 0, Fig. 6, catches under bar 00, Fig. 1, thuspreventing chain cfrom unduly swaying, and also assisting in supportingrake R, obviating any liability of the rake-teeth conflicting with thesickle S. When the rake arrives at the depression 0 in the track, Figs.4 and 10, if plate 5 of the tripping device is in the position shown inFigs. 1 and 3, the rake will trip, Figs. 1 and 4, as plate 8, engagingtongue n of the casting H,-Fi gs. 5 and 6, will force said tongue out ofits recess a, Figs. 2 and 6, unlocking it and allowing the rake to turnin its swiveled joint 41, when said rake trips and passes over thegrain, which is done until enough collects to form a bundle, when, bypulling on rod to, Figs. 1, 3, which draws plate 8 away from the track,the rake will not trip, but will rake the gavel back farther on thetable. From this point e around up the ascending incline of the way theautomatically-adjustable draw-bar and brace J comes into especialservice in assisting to draw the rake B, it now being extended to itsfarthest capacity, Fig. 1, and the projection b of the headed rod r islocked in its recess d.

As the rake passes on, if unallowed to trip at 0, it will trip as soonas it commences to ascend barv between. it and bar d or barf, Fig. 1,will hai e acted upon tongue at in the same manner as plate .9,unlocking joint i and leaving the gavel at the point indicated by it ontable T.

Barf has an adjusting-slot in its shouldered end, by means of which itcan be located at the exact distance required at all times from track 0.Bar 3 is provided to obviate any danger of the rake-head turning andbecoming locked in its upward ascent to a perpendicular angle, whichpoint is attained when nearly over wheel A. Bar y is a continuation ofbar 12, but lower, in order to clear the casting H of the rake,and-allow it to turn again and lock, which it does by bar a. engagingstud '0, Figs. 1 and 6. Fig. 5 shows the rake after it has'passed studc, where the tongue at has locked in its recess z. The casting H, inwhich the tongue n is located, has a spring therein, which operates saidtongue. The rake now passes on down the descending incline of the way onan oblique angle, between bars d and n, Figs. 1, 2, 10, andll, strikinginto the grain again in a horizontal position when reaching the pointshown by dotted lines at R. Re ferrin g back to the right-hand sideot'the way in Fig. 1, soon after the rake has passed the gavel, thedraw-bar unlocks at b, and soon it begins toshorten, as seen in Figs. 1,6, and 8. Thus the draw-bar, by means of this feature and its joint,accommodates itself to the varying angles and positions assumed bytherake-arm.

What I claim, and-desire to secure by Let ters Patent, is

1. The wheels carrying the chain, with the rakes secured thereto, incombination with the track or way adaptedfor guiding and supporting saidrakes and throwing them into the grain and carrying them back to thecutterbar in the parallel position thereto set forth, all substantiallyas specified and shown.

2. The wheels and chain, or band carrying rakes, the guiding andsupporting track, and means for operating said wheels and rakes toeifectthe object set forth, all substantially as described.

3. The automatically-adjustable compound draw-bar and brace,consistingof the recessed center bar with the notch in one side,the swiveled barhaving the head with the projection adapted for looking with said notch,and'the bars which jointedly unite each end of the device with itsconnections, all substantially as described and shown.

4. Thecompound draw-bar and brace,having the recessed center bar withthe looking-notch, and the swiveled bar, provided with the head havingthe projection for looking with said notch, in combination with therakes and the chain carrying them, substantially as set forth.

5. The rake-head havingthe end connecting with the chain or belt,provided with recess z and projection 0, in combination with bars 0, 5,and a; of the track, substantially as setforth.

6. The bars which support the axles of the chain-wheels, having theframe or brackets for supporting the guard or cover of the deviceconnected therewith, in combination with said guard, substantially asdescribed, for the purpose specified.

7. The band carrying the rakes and provided with the draw-bar brace, incombination with the means for tripping the rake, substantially asspecified and shown.

8. The track or way, the inner bar of which is provided with the studfor turning the rakehead, in combination witha rake-head having theswiveled joint and locking device, and the extending bar for engagingwith said stud in turning the rake, all substantially as set forth.

9. The track or way consisting of the guidebars a, y, d, N, and 0,supporting-bars 5 and 0:, adjustable tripping-bar f, and bar 3, formed,

located, and arranged to effect the objects set 20 forth,-allsubstantially as shown.

10. In a reaper reel and rake, the wheels and chain carrying rakes, incombination with means for guiding, supporting, turning, and trippingsaid rakeor rakes and throwingthem 25 in the grain in the parallelposition to the cutter-bar specified, all substantially as described.

11. The wheels and chain or band carrying the rakes, the way adapted forguiding and supporting said rakes in theirtransit, and hav- 3o ing thedepression-and other specified means or equivalents for tripping therakes, all in combination with the platform of a grain-reaper,substantially as set forth.

WILLIAM H. KNAPP.

Witnesses:

GEO. M. BUCK, FRANK G. GIBBS.

